by Karen Coleman DTM Youth Leadership Chair and Founder of Teen CEO
While serving as the Toastmasters Youth Leadership Chair, I encourage future youth coordinators to bring their own leadership styles into their workshops. This propelled me to customize my leadership style to fit the needs of the students requesting the workshop experience. I started an exciting partnership between the Toastmasters Youth Leadership Program (YLP) and my Teen CEO organization to help young people get the tools they need for their future success.
As the Youth Leadership Chair and founder of Teen CEO, I had the privilege of coordinating this collaborative effort, which brought together the best of both organizations: Toastmasters’ focus on effective communication and leadership and Teen CEO’s emphasis on entrepreneurial thinking and soft skills.
Over eight weeks, teens in the Southlake, Texas, community participated in interactive workshops that encouraged them to step outside their comfort zones and unlock their potential. The Toastmasters curriculum empowered them to deliver powerful speeches, lead team discussions, and provide constructive feedback with confidence. Meanwhile, Teen CEO’s curriculum focused on fostering innovation, problem-solving, and adaptability—skills vital in today’s ever-changing world.
What made this collaboration so impactful was its youth-led approach. The students were referred to as CEOs, and they conducted boardroom meetings that included roles of chairmanship and parliamentary procedures. As Steve Jobs says, “Leadership is not just about managing others but about inspiring people to do things they never thought they could.” This program taught teens how to communicate their vision, work collaboratively, and approach challenges with an entrepreneurial mindset. Watching their transformation from hesitant participants to confident, articulate young leaders was incredibly rewarding.
There are no words to describe how proud I am of these young people who were dedicated to learning and leading. They chose their final presentation to be a “Shark Tank” style assignment, and they were fantastic!
All the participants expressed gratitude and interest in continuing their learning journey. Hearing their testimonials reaffirmed why leadership training is so important. We’re not just preparing the next generation of leaders but shaping future innovators, change-makers, and visionaries.
